Hybrid tea rose plant named &#39;Meistiley&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Hybrid Tea rose plant is provided that forms at mid-season abundantly and substantially continuously attractive large very double red blossoms wherein the petals of fully opened blossoms commonly are present in a substantially quartered configuration. The large buds are substantially conical to ovoid in shape. The vegetation is strong and attractive dense leathery glossy dark green foliage is formed. The plant is particularly well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Rosa hybrida/Hybrid Tea Rose Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. Meistiley

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Hybrid Tea rose plant was created byartificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previouslyhad been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was theproduct of the cross of the ‘Meifota’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No.5,683) and the ‘Veramal’ variety (non-patented in the United States).The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the product of the crossof the ‘Meibuito’ variety (non-patented in the United States) and the‘Meibigoud’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,308).

The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:

(‘Meifota’×‘Veramal’)×(‘Meibuito’×‘Meibigoud’).

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new Hybrid Tea rose plant of the presentinvention:

-   -   (a) displays an erect growth habit with strong vegetation,    -   (b) forms large substantially conical- to ovoid-shaped buds,    -   (c) forms at mid-season abundantly and substantially        continuously large very double red blossoms wherein the petals        commonly display a long vase life and wherein the petals of        fully opened blossoms commonly are present in a substantially        quartered configuration,    -   (d) displays attractive dense leathery glossy dark green        foliage, and    -   (e) is particularly well suited for providing attractive        ornamentation in the landscape.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andcan be grown to advantage in the landscape including parks and gardens.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. Forinstance, the blossom appearance is considerably different from that ofthe ‘Meifota’, ‘Veramal’ and ‘Meibuito’ varieties. More specifically,the ‘Meifota’ variety forms dark salmon pink blossoms, the ‘Veramal’variety forms orange-red blossoms, and the ‘Meibuito’ variety formsdarker red blossoms. The ‘Meibigoud’ variety forms considerably longerstems than the new variety.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Franceby a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and the use ofcuttings. Asexual propagation by the above-mentioned techniques at LeCannet des Maures, Var, France, has shown that the characteristics ofthe new variety are stable and are strictly transmissible by suchasexual propagation from one generation to another. Accordingly, the newvariety undergoes asexual propagation in a true-to-type manner.

The new variety has been named ‘Meistiley’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were approximately one year of age and were observedduring April while growing on their own roots outdoors at Le Cannet desMaures, Var, France. A standard color presentation is included at thebottom of the photograph for comparative purposes.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 4—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 10—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12—illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 13—illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 14—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets—planview—upper surface;

FIG. 15—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets—planview—under surface; and

FIG. 16—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with seven leaflets—planview—upper surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based onthe observation of one-year-old plants during June while growing ontheir own roots outdoors at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France.

-   Class: Hybrid Tea.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—erect.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—young stems: near Yellow-Green Group 146A. — adult            wood: near Yellow-Green Group 147B.        -   Thorns.—none observed.-   Leaves:    -   -   Stipules.—adnate, pectinate, rather broad, approximately 2            cm in length on average, approximately 0.4 cm in width on            average, near Green Group 138B on the upper surface, and            near Yellow-Green Group 146C on the under surface.        -   Petioles.—upper surface: near Green Group 138B in            coloration. — under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146C in            coloration. — length: approximately 5.5 cm on average for            the terminal leaflet. — texture: glandular on the upper            surface, and lacking prickles on the under surface.        -   Rachis.—upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group 147B in            coloration. — under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146C in            coloration. — texture: smooth.        -   Leaflets.—number 3, 5 (most often), and 7. — shape:            generally oval with a cuspidate tip and an obtuse base. —            general appearance: dense with a glossy aspect. — serration:            small and single (as illustrated). — texture: physically            firm and leathery. — color (young foliage): upper surface:            near Green Group 139A. under surface: near Green Group 137C.            — color (adult foliage): upper surface: near Green Group            137A. under surface: near Green Group 138B.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—commonly approximately 1 blossom per            stem.        -   Peduncle.—smooth, approximately 7.5 cm in length on average,            approximately 0.7 cm in diameter on average, and near            Yellow-Green Group 144A in coloration.        -   Sepals.—upper surface: tomentose and near Yellow-Green Group            147C and 147D in coloration. — under surface: smooth and            near Yellow-Green Group 144A in coloration. — shape:            longish-pointed and narrow, and rounded at the base. — size:            approximately 3.5 cm in length on average, and approximately            1.3 cm in width at the widest point on average.        -   Buds.—shape: substantially conical to ovoid. — size: large.            — length: approximately 2.5 cm on average. — width:            approximately 2 cm at the widest point on average. color as            calyx breaks: upper surface: near Red Group 53A suffused            with near Red-Purple Group 59A. under surface: near Red            Group 53A.        -   Flower.—shape: cup-shaped. — diameter: approximately 10 cm            on average. — color (in the course of opening): upper            surface: near Red Group 46A suffused with near Red Group            53A. under surface: near Red Group 53B. — color (open            flower): upper side: near Red Group 53B. under side: near            Red Group 53D. — fragrance: none. — petal number: commonly            approximately 75 to 77 on average under normal growing            conditions. — petal shape: with a substantially rounded tip            and a substantially rounded base. — petal texture: leathery            and somewhat firm. — petal length: approximately 4.5 to 5.5            cm on average. — petal width: approximately 4 to 6 cm on            average. — petal arrangement: imbricated, and without            petaloids. — vase life: long, and commonly approximately 12            to 14 days on average. — petal drop: good with the petals            commonly detaching cleanly before drying. — stamen number:            approximately 92 on average. — anthers: regularly arranged            in a whorl around the styles, approximately 0.2 cm in size            on average, and near Orange Group 26B in coloration. —            filaments: approximately 0.5 to 0.8 cm in length on average,            and near Orange-Red Group 34A in coloration. — pistils:            approximately 153 on average. — stigmas: approximately 0.2            cm in size on average, and near Yellow Group 11D in            coloration. — styles: approximately 0.8 to 1 cm in length on            average, and near Orange-Red Group 34A in coloration. —            receptacle: smooth, funnel-shaped in longitudinal section,            approximately 1 cm in length on average, approximately 1.5            cm in width on average at the widest point, and near            Yellow-Green Group 146C in coloration.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—strong.        -   Blooming.—mid-season, very abundant and substantially            continuous.        -   Tolerance to diseases.—good, with no particular            susceptibility to common diseases having been encountered            during observations to date.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Hybrid Tea rose plant characterized bythe following characteristics: (a) displays an erect growth habit withstrong vegetation, (b) forms large substantially conical- toovoid-shaped buds, (c) forms at mid-season abundantly and substantiallycontinuously large very double red blossoms wherein the petals commonlydisplay a long vase life and wherein the petals of fully opened blossomscommonly are present in a substantially quartered configuration, (d)displays attractive dense leathery glossy dark green foliage, and (e) isparticularly well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in thelandscape; substantially as shown and described.